The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-02-17
s0uRADES IN CONVENTION.
rrnrecedented Attendance at the
- ,.aiara Grand Army Encampment.
remarkable Growth of the Organization
ps I.;rc the Last Year-Reports ofthe OFF,
p4 ..rs--Last Nights Camp Fire.


n. eighth annual eneampmen' OF 'ae depart
:, Indiana, G. A. r., which convened at
ps', ,:..o, Hall yesterday morning, at 10
We T. noint Of numbers in attendance prob
'a'' .,vnssses any meeting heretofore held since
:. organization of the order in the State.
" ,.r.rters had been established by Depart
n''. commander Bennett at English's Hotel,
a.r and arrivals on that day were numer-
:. sy night the Office and reading-room being
ally packed with the fraternity Of the eagle
80 star, while the house, which had filled,
..s,aOwed SO that the comrades were compelled
..trmish for quarters amongs. the other cara
..,os ~ the city. One has but to watch the
.,r,a of the comrades to find evidence that
~ :, ,hsm the word "comrade" means something
-. than certain arrangement OK let
=. a. the greeting between acquaintance
!. .onething more than perfunctory per-
,..,oes Of that relic Of barbarism. hand-shak-
!. tits grasp that plainly indicates conf
,.,.s and trust no matter how soon they may
:, % to take possession OF an ear in the interest
:, ,one favorite candidate. The question as to
.,os going to be department commander COM
r,rees to be asked by the frst arrival, and it is
!. .llabsorbinc question until settled, after
-,,.b the comrades are apt to fade away in the
a..,,ion Of homo like the descendants of Ish-
,..l who are supposed to vanish with their
lcnjeiss with minimum of voice.
Owing 20 q misunderstanding, the parade IN
- - L. A.
ueeess which had been expected AS said
,hse. the comrades love each other, but the
bvt Of affiaton in the organization. IL must be
rnfessed does not eliminate all the passions
,Aich 20 to show human nature not quite ready
as translation, such as jealousy and envy
por instance, through some error in print it
"a, announced that Geo. Fl. Thomas Post had
been invited to act as escort to the encampment,
,na By reason OF this fact the various other
4 resnizatlons did not report as bodies. as it was
uoec.ed would be done, However the encamp-
nent followed it's coors under escort Of q guard
pnrsnded by Cornrade Lang, of Anderson, Off
4 wr Of the day and q combination escort made
40 from the various posts, under command of
! Comrsis Walker of George II. Thomas Post
Commander Bennett opened the encampment
I n manner utterly devoid of ceremonial or
bsug called when Ii was announced that the two
! bodies Of the Indisna Legislature were pining
\ for the presence of the Grand Army of the Re-
public and the business of the encampment was
suspended for the purpose of visiting the Capitol
I ind It's law making occupants. The march was
without bray Of bugle, throb OF drum. or fiutter
Of banners but in passing through the Circle that
secured which made the short march very
4 impressive affair. As the column approached
4 the Morton statue the Department Commander
suggested division of the ranks and uncover
4 Ing 10 passing the bronze effgy OF the man who
vas iron when the country needed strength for
he salvation. This idea was carried out, and
when the head Of tho column had reached the
stste-house steps the two lines were still PASS
INC with uncovered heads Both in the House
4 M Representatives and the Senate chamber the
srdine sinile does not do. justice to the pack
me Department Commander Bennett present
ID to both bodies brief memorial, which had
thaving the hail for the Capitol, asking the
legislature to pass the bill before it appropri
iing $780, 900 for the erection of soldiers and
nicrs monument. The Senate adjourned
rsDg the comrades the freedom Of the floor
shsh most of them Immediately took
m The membership Of the organization
I billy appreciated the courtesy of both bodies
4 sna later testified to the fact by resolution Il
\ nasefect Before leaving Tomlinson Hall tht
eusampment had adjourned to meet at O'Clock
Pm Upon reconvening, the regular order Of
business was taken up, the roll call completed
d lnd officers reports made, in regular order Of
. precedence
The report Of Department Commander Ben
sais was quite exhaustive in its treatment Of the
nfious leading subjects of special interest to tn,
4 rider, and reviewed the years work at length
nd 10 detail. Having been told on his accession
bcommander that the order bad reached it.
INN - Id kAA -
nan maintain il at the strength turned over t.
nn Notwithstanding this prediction, however
/ IVY new posts had been organized during the
| Naf nve disbanded posts reOrganized and five
|. Nss ciscanded making a total gain of fifty
l Ms Tor the year and an estimated increase o.
nubership Of 1927 All of the department. of
se,s had been impressed with the necessit,
ne strictest economy in the management o.
FINANCES. AT the beginning of the year ther
M paid over TO the assistant quartermaster
Fasrai S4.072 Ain cash. and there is now in th
na'ury total Of s437l 80, including 3d. 900 OF
wa secured by mortgage. The department wa
o~ congratulated upon the fact that the Gen
.a assembly had responded to the sentimen
az asVery comrads in the State with reference t
~ soldiers Orphans home, which was an idol
r sSa Institution with the soldiery and that tn
\ .Airamec by the committee appointed by tn
~lmaader had been passed. and had re
sMwo The approval of the Governor
4 49, nnancer urged upon the department..
@ nv Of the cardinal principles of the organizs
w. mat partisan politics should not enter tn
ss,.soom, for I'VE will see the beginning of
/ r@ Saa disastrous decline the moment we a.
me .ne eaunt specter Of party politics to feas
/ yul nAnqrets or sit at our cams. fires" In tn
/ wsmanca of his duties the past year. th
sSnMasr bad travelled about six thousan
4 l l.s'' lEc!sding the trip to California, and
made over fifty speeches. while he ha
@ avn 'rou the treasury but 800 on expense a,
r, MA IN closing his report the commando
a," "u mat although he bad been honored b
m.a la POSITIONS Of Importance and trust,
nv sa 'asn was he 80 proud IA that Of the p.
I IT,. y commander Of the Department Of /,
NJ o'ahd Army Of the Republic
|,ol &. fsPort OF the Assistant Adjutant- genera
Il" ENs louise, was mere ouslinip., OF tho NO:
P~3 ill., .ea Tar the year, the details Of which 81
y, Fsrsd To- "'''''''s h0ea 'hsre"''h %
Ma ,an Sluartermaster- general G. E. VIII
VA Shows that the total receipts for II
GS ending Feb. is, 1887, have been $1l
4 tina az, s1 a.. the expenditures during the aaI
20, leaving a cash balance of $73l.
nas saaed to this are 81 600 invested in NOR
l lad .n.aax accrued interest, $l49, and suppl
II pe-,asuiture, S430 67 maxim. the total IN he,